All Saints' Cathedral, Allahabad, UP - finest Anglican Cathedral in Asia,18 historical facts

stained glass panel. All Saints’ Cathedral. Allahabad, India ramaarya.blog

All Saints Cathedral in Allahabad, UP., India  dreamstime.com

Gargoyle, All saints church, Allahabad city, India. /fineartamerica.com/

All Saints Cathedral on the Sarojini Naidu Marg (the western end of Civil Lines), Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh built in the 19th century is the most remarkable legacy of the colonial rule in India.  Also known as Patthar Girja Ghar or The Church of Stone locally, this well-preserved colonial structure attracts lots of tourists to this  old city which is an important center of pilgrimage for the Hindus and Christians. There are 14 other churches here built during the colonial period.  It was  in Allahabad in 1858, Earl Canning read out the proclamation,  transferring control of India from the British East India Company to the British Crown, and the British Raj officially came into being. This city  is known for its  multi-cultural and  multi-religious  fabric.

Gold and marble altar, All Saints’ Cathedral. ramaarya.blog

The historic church is  remarkable for its  intricate work and designs on the marble altar with  a majestic  pulpit,  stained glass  windows  and  fine ornate  arches in pale sandstone,  and all these unique features add zest  to this already beautiful edifice particularly, to its facade.  The Cathedral is about  2 km  from the Allahabad Railway Junction. Surrounded by nice  lush green garden,  people who visit this place for prayer and blessing may find it quite relaxing  and may easily go into a meditative mode. When the mind becomes calm and composed, it is good for your  physical as well as mental well being. Allahabad City is well connected with all major cities of India by Railways.

All Saints’ Cathedral, Allahabad, you tube. 

The following are the important facts about this Asia's   finest church despite its age.

01. It is the oldest church built during 19th century and  is  well-preserved as a nice piece of colonial structure in today’s time. Considered  as the best church in entire Asia,  it  is  more than 128 years old; the stained glass windows of the church  have not lost the shine and look as if they were original. 

All Saints Cathedral in Allahabad, India. justdial.com

British Architect. Sir William Emerson,topyaps.com

02. Designed by  Sir William Emerson, an eminent  British architect who also designed popular buildings  such as the Victoria Memorial, Calcutta,  Crawford Market, Mumbai  and the Muir Central College, Allahabad (founded in 1872), he followed the Gothic style of architecture.

03. In those days, the Gothic style  was mostly used by Christian community in  places of worship and the trend seems to continue in only in some  places today.  Quite popular in Europe during the High and Late Middle ages, it  evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture. Originating in 12th-century France. 

04. Sir William Emerson used Canterbury Church, England as a model for this church, as he was very much inspired by the English church.  Founded in 597 A.D Canterbury church  was rebuilt in 1070-77 A.D.  After a fire mishap in 1174 A.D., its east end was enlarged and rebuilt in the present Gothic style.

All Saints Cathedral in Allahabad, India. justdial.com

05. The  lush gardens of the All Saints Cathedral in central Allahabad bear striking similarity with those of Canterbury in terms off its serene ambiance.

Gargoyle  All Saints Cathedral in Allahabad, India .dailyhunt.in

Gargoyle All Saints Cathedral in Allahabad, India.flickriver.com

All Saints Cathedral in Allahabad, Indiawikimedia.org

06. This  cathedral has a dimension of  240 feet by 56 feet Anglo-Gothic stone mass, with a 130 feet by 40 feet nave, resembling most the east end of Canterbury Cathedral in England.  It is the seat of power  of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the symbolic leader of the global Anglican Communion.

07. The remarkable feature of stained glass works is its murals  resemble  those in Fatehpur Sikri,  close to Agra city. 

All Saints Cathedral,Allahabad, India myowncity.in

08. The impressive intricate designs on the marble altar  look as if they were made in recent time  and despite the age factor of the structure, they have retained their originality even today. It is said the  Bishop's throne in the church is engraved in the style of the Lahore School of Art.

09. The altar  has  mosaic and marble inlay and the pulpit is nicely designed with 3 panels exhibiting amazing  workmanship in alabaster.

10. The central panel represents the crucification  with figures of Virgin Mary and St. John at the base. The other figures are St. Mathew, St. Mark, St. Luke and the two martyrs.

All Saints Cathedral in Allahabad   dreamstime.com

11. The cathedral is in a nice surrounding lined with palms. It also presents a facade with fine stucco work, Gothic arches, a  tower, flying buttresses and snarling gargoyles;  the latter ones add beauty to this old structure. The exterior is built in creamy-white stone from Surajpur with fine red sandstone dressings. As for the slanting roof, it is covered with red tiles to prevent seepage of water in the rainy seasons.

All Saints Cathedral in Allahabad, India Alamy

12. All Saints Church, Allahabad carries mostly European style of design and construction. However, it does have Indian influences as revealed by  marble latticework. This inspiration owes its origin to  the Mogul buildings of Agra.

13. The work on the cathedral was done by Messrs Frizzoni and Co. and  Messrs Martin and Co. as the chief builders  and the total cost of this project was over Rs. 6,00,000, indeed a whooping sum in those days, 

14. Built  in 1871 by William Muir, the Lieutenant Governor of the North West Provinces  and his wife Elizabeth Huntley Wemyss is more than 128 years old.  Sir William Muir donated  the land to build the church in Allahabad and then in April 1871, his wife  Elizabeth Huntly Wemyss laid the foundation stone of Cathedral. The church was consecrated in 1887 and the construction was completed in 1891.

15. It was built roughly 33 years later after the subcontinent's administration had been taken over  directly by the British government from East India company's misrule. 

16. All Saints Cathedral,  one of the sacred places in Allahabad for the north Indian Christian community, can accommodate more than 300 people  at a time during prayer services. 

17. The church is designed in such a way as to keep the interiors cool during hot summer season. Keeping  in mind  the pretty warm weather for much of the year in Allahabad, the cathedral has  high ceiling with vaulted arches, porches for carriages, low windows that could be easily covered with mats to protect interiors from hot winds and dust, and.  High vaulted hallways will help prevent hot radiation from the roof.

18. The church has many plaques where visitors can see names of the British administrators and others  who died for various reasons during the time of the British Raj.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/10-places-that-offer-a-slice-of-history-i

http://www.myowncity.in/3037/all-saints-cathedral-in-allahabad/
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/the-bells-chime-alongside/article3844864.ece